Saturday, 9 September 2023

Meon Shore, Titchfield

Wednesday 6 September 

An early morning start saw me at the Meon Shore, Hill Head just before 8 at an almost low tide on a still and very warm, cloudless, sunny day.  Starting at the harbour I could but not see the numerous local Mallards along with a family of Mute Swans and a couple of Coot.  Walking to the far side also produced a number of Turnstones at the river mouth a resting Cormorant.  Naturally, there were many Black-headed and a few Herring Gulls.

Mute Swans Cygnus olor with two cygnets and Mallards Anas platyrhynchos

Looking along the Solent shore to the west very many more gulls along with a few Oystercatchers and a larger number of foraging Redshank and a Dunlin.  In addition to more Mallards out on the open water at least a quartet of Gadwall.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo watching a Redshank Tringa totanus

Back to the viewing point overlooking the adjacent pool and neighbouring reserve, a slight diversion into the cafe area produced a Blue Tit, then many more Coots and Mallard plus, on the island, a mixture of MallardMoorhen and the missing Mute Swan cygnet. On the far side an adult and two juvenile Great Crested Grebes whilst at the southern end a single Shoveler and a halfdozen Gadwall.  In the reserve itself on the just visible pool a number of Lapwing.  As I was about to depart a Kingfisher flashed away upriver and a Magpie flew across the water.

Lagoon island with the missing Mute Swan cygnet and others

Once back on the shore a walk northwards along the front produced Woodpigeons in the reserve whilst a lone Common Tern flew northwards up the Solent.  On the beach many more Black-headed and Herring Gulls along with Carrion CrowsTurnstones and Oystercatchers.  Even a single Starling was seeking out a meal.  Finally, at the far end of the road,  a score of Starlings and starting out on the return journey home a quartet of Barn Swallows on the wires.

A few of the Starling Sturnus vulgaris flock

Birds seen:

Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling.

Mute Swan Cygnus olor and Mallards
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Shoveler Anas clypeata

Redshanks Tringa totanus

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